By Alex Nolan
When the fire department turns up in the middle of the meeting, you know the racing is hot.
That was the case on Thursday night at Albion Park when finalists for the 2022 Listed Queensland Flame were decided with two thrilling heats.
Technically, the fire trucks were there to clear a false alarm that forced patrons to be momentarily evacuated from the grandstand, but the racing was scorching nonetheless.
And, none were faster than Queensland’s star chaser of the moment in Shipwreck, who locked in his spot in the Listed Flame Final with a thrilling win by the narrowest of margins in heat two.
After a slow start, this year’s Group 3 Vince Curry champion worked his way down to the fence and railed through to be within striking distance of breakaway leader Springtime Jet down the back.
Springtime Jet gave a great kick turning for home before the Ned Snow-trained Shipwreck launched late, forcing the judge to call for the print, with Tyanna Belle running an ultra-brave third after being posted wide throughout.
“I knew it was going to get close but that was very close, it was a bob of the head,” Shipwreck's handler Dave Eisel said.
“I was hoping he’d miss it and get to the rail, once he got to a position around the back I kicked him home from there.”
Shipwreck stopped the clock in a best of night 29.68 seconds, 0.15 seconds faster than first heat winner De Ferran.
The emerging talent from the Tony Zammit kennel - De Ferran - utilised his inside draw to hold out Tungsten Miss in a race to the first turn, before going on with the job to score in 29.83 seconds.
In doing so he beat the Sharyn Jackson-trained Springtime Storm, with Tungsten Miss holding on for third.
It set the scene for a blistering second edition of the Flame Final, which offers the winner the chance to represent Racing Queensland’s slot in next month’s The Phoenix – the richest race for greyhounds – worth $1 million to the winner.
Tungsten Miss will be drawn to order in box one, with pint-sized Tyanna Belle drawing box two for a second straight year after she finished fifth in the inaugural Final.
Fastest fourth place getter, Jay Is Jay, will exit box three with Hara’s Herbie drawn in the blue rug.
Hara’s Herbie, the recent Ipswich Cup winner for trainer Jemma Daley, trialled in 29.83 seconds at Albion Park prior to race one on Thursday after securing a free pass into the Final for taking the prestigious Group 2.
De Ferran has drawn box five, Springtime Jet will leave box six, Shipwreck has drawn seven and Springtime Storm has drawn widest in eight.
Inaugural Flame winning trainers Graham and Leanne Hall’s Luminosity is the first reserve, with Feel The Beat the second.